Tony Mulhearn Liverpool Socialist Party

In addition to his celebrated political abrasiveness when baiting the Tories and their institutions, his love of nature, singing - he's a natural for a good karaoke - and his love of walking in the great parks is brought to life.

The film is at its most riveting when it portrays his unequivocal rejection of Toryism, capitalist hypocrisy and inequality, and his identification with workers in struggle.

"Dennis Skinner, the left-winger nicknamed the Beast of Bolsover, has become a surprising confidant of the prime minister.

"Downing Street has let it be known that Mr Blair would be delighted if Mr Skinner is, as expected, re-elected to Labour's ruling national executive committee this week.

"The MP for Bolsover, Derbyshire, a former miner, has become the unofficial link man between the prime minister and the so-called 'awkward squad' of left-wingers in the Commons.

"Mr Blair regularly telephones him for advice and invites him for tea in his parliamentary office. 'They get on very well,' a Downing Street source said. 'The prime minister has a very high opinion of Dennis - he's got a soft spot for him like we all do.

"'The Dennis Skinner of 1998 is not the Dennis Skinner of 1988 or 1978. He's become a lot more constructive in his outlook and approach'."

Subsequent events revealed to many on the left that any trust in Blair was a calamitous misjudgement.